Woodland body trial postponed as accused seriously ill

A JUDGE has postponed the trial of a man accused of shooting dead and dumping the body of another man until the end of the year hearing that he is seriously ill.

James Farrelly, 53, was due to go on trial at the High Court in Glasgow in May accused of murdering Martin Hamilton in Blackburn, West Lothian, sometime in 2015.

The body of Mr Hamilton, of Blackhill, Glasgow, was found in a park near West Calder, West Lothian, after he had been reported missing earlier in the year.

Mr Hamilton, 53, who was nicknamed Hammy, had been missing for some time.

However, Mr Farrelly’s solicitor advocate, Euan Roy, yesterday asked the High Court to postpone proceedings due to the accused’s illness. The lawyer did not disclose Mr Farrelly’s condition but said: “He has a very weak and poor prognosis.”

Alex Prentice QC, prosecuting, told the court that the Crown had no objections to the request.

Prosecutors alleged Mr Farrelly shot Mr Hamilton in the head with a firearm then inflicted blunt and sharp force injuries to his head sometime between April 16 and December 17 2015.

Mr Farrelly is also charged with attempting to defeat the ends of justice by dumping the body in woodland and covering it in branches.

It is also alleged that he removed kitchen units, appliances and flooring from the house where the murder allegedly took place. Prosecutors claim that Mr Farrelly then attempted to remove blood.

He also faces allegations that he was involved in the supply of hard drugs. Mr Farrelly denies the charges against him and Judge Lady Wise set trial for November.